Harvester thresher



June 5, 1945. w, DRAY 2,377,331 'HARVESTER THRESHER' I Original Filed July 1, 1935 2 SheetsSheet 2 I 206 a III 26 2/6 2/7 NLR mama June 5,1945

HABVESTER TBRESHEB Y Walter B. Dray, Kendall Township, Kendall (hunty, Ill., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manuiacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Original application July 1, 1935, Serial No.

29,216, now Patent No. 2,262,453, dated November 11, 1941. Divided and this application June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,126

- 8 Claims.

7 This invention relates in general to improvements of particular utility in harvesting ma- The present invention contemplates and has as an object thereof the provision of an improved harvester or likemachine of the tractordrawn and power-operated type, more particularly such machines as are of the combined harvester-thresher type, and including novel power transmitting mechanism through which power is supplied from a driving source, such as a tractor by which the harvester is drawn through the fie1d,to the operating mechanisms of the harvester, and insuring an efllcient drive thereof and protection to the operating parts in spite of any displacement of the power source relative to the harvester, as the tractor moves over uneven ground and makes turning movements of any degree during normal operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved form of driving connection for combine embodying respect to the machine in the operation of the latter by the tractor.

These and other objects and advantages are obtained by the present invention, various novel features ofwhich will be apparent from the description and acocmpanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment of the several features of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a harvester-thresher or features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view in side elevation, with parts in section, of the forward portion of the power drive shaft and its support on the draft element of the harvester-thresher of Fig. 1;

Figs, 3 and 4 are sectional views in the planes r of the lines III-III and IV--IV, respectively, of j 20 Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view in top elevation of a portion of the power drive shaft, showing the driving connection between the forward and rear sections of such drive shaft.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is,

disclosed as a part of a harvester-thresher including a main support in the form of a steel tube 0 carrying journals for the supporting'and traction wheels II and extending transversely of the normal direction of travel of the apparatus, On this tubular support III is mounted an auxiliary supporting structure of a fabricated a harvester, between a power source, such as a tractor, and the operating .mechanisms of the harvester, and including a unitary coupling and driving connection between shaft sections carried by the harvesterand one of 'which is flexibly connected to the power source on the tractor and the other of which is connected to drive the op-v character and including a forwardly projecting fabricated frame 12 serving as a drawbar support through whi'cmtractive efl'ort of a source of traction, such as a power tractor, may'be applied through a suitable couplingat the forward end of the frame It, and as a support for a power shaft through which power is supplied from a tractor for operating the several mecha- -nisms of the apparatus, and a framework on which are carried several major elements'of the a harvester or like machine of the tractor-drawn and power-operated type and utilizing a drive shaft operatively mounted on a draft portion of the machine and connected in driven relation to the power sourceon the tractor, with the drive,

apparatus, such as the supporting and enclosing housing l3 for the threshing mechanism, with the auxiliary header frame i4 carried by the latter housing, and the separator housing I! communicating with the discharge'side of the housing ii! for the threshingmechanism and extending transversely thereof, and a storage bin I6 for clean grain. The position of the traction wheels and their journals is such ,that the weight of the harvester-thr'esher is balanced about the .axis of rotation of these wheels.

The header frame It is of troughlike form open at its forward and-rear ends and has side walls parent application.

In operation, the harvested grain, after being a cut by the sickle 30, is moved upwardly and rearfitting closely within'side walls of the housing I3 for the threshing mechanism at the open forward side thereof, and the header frame is tion, to a desired position of adjustment relative to the ground.

At the forward end ofthe header frame I4 adjacent the bottom plate thereof is mounted a sickle device 30. of conventional design and having an operating rod 'pivotally attached to an actuating plate 32 pivotally mounted on a plate extending laterally from and supported on the inner side wall of the header frame.

Mounted within the header frame adjacent the lower edges of the side walls thereof is a traveling conveyer 38 of the draper belt type, and it travels over a driving roller disposed at the upper end of the draper and having a drive shaft provided with shaft .journals rotatably mounted in bearings on the side walls of the header frame near the upper, end thereof and on the adjacent portions of the side walls of the housing I3, the driving shaft of this upper roller preferably being coincident with .the axis on which the header frame has its pivotal spherical journal portion 208 rotatably supported in" a bearing 209 having a spherical bearing surmountedon the housing I3 through a pivotal face and being pivotally' mounted,' indicated more particularly in Fig. 2, on the forward end of the drawbar frame l2 to move, with fore and aft and up and down directional components, in a planeextending in the'general direction of the axis of the shaft section 206, It will be noted that, by reason of the engagement of the spherical I surfaces of the shaft journal and the bearing. the

shaft journal is restricted with respect to axial movement relative to its cooperative hearing. The

shaft section v206 is connected through a double universal connection, comprising universal joints 2H] and H2 and an intermediate shaft coupling 2 I3, to the rear end of a power shaft 2 I4 carried by a tractor, not shown, this power shaft preferably being operable at speeds independent of the speed of travel of the tractor.

The connection between shaftsections 206 and 201 is in the form of a combined slip clutch and telescopic connection including a split coupling sleeve comprising forward and rear portions 2I6 movement-on the side walls of the housing l3.

carried by a bearing housing 63, preferably supported for adjustment to vary the position of the reel with respect to the cutting sickle 30.

The threshing cylinder, indicated generally at SI, comprises an operating shaft 82 rotatably mounted in bearings in the side walls of the housj ing. Thedetails' of the separating mechanism, associated with and enclosed within the separator housing I5,disclosed and described in full in the above mentioned parent application, are not disclosed herein beyond a. showing of the receiving trough or well, I 52 in which the threshed grain is received and from which it is removed forwardly to the grain bin I6 by a screw conveyer I53 on a shaft I54. This shaft I54, also serves to transmit power for driving various operating mechanisms of the separator, as disclosed in the aforesaid wardly along the traveling draper 38 and is fed therefrom to the threshing mechanism.. The

straw and threshed grain discharged from the threshing mechanism passes into the separator housing I5 where they are subjected to the action of the separating mechanism which serves to separate the threshed grain from the straw, the latter being discharged from the separatorrhousing, and the threshed grain being collected in the receiving well I52 in which the screw conveyer I53 I operates, the latter serving to convey this grain forwardly and through a tubular extension I81 of sucnwell, into the grain bin I6.

Power for operating the various mechanisms of the apparatus is derived from amain power shaft made up of longitudinally adjustable sections 206,

and 2", respectively. I The forward sectionof the coupling is provided on its interior surface-with a friction clutch lining 2I8 adapted, when the clamping bolts 2I9 are drawn up sufficiently, to

cause the lining to frictionally grip the shaft sec-v tion 206 with a desired pressure, to insure rotation of the coupling sleeve with the shaft section 206 under all conditions of normal load, but per- .mitting slippage of the shaft section 206 with respect to the coupling sleeve when the load on the apparatus, as transmitted through the forward section 206 of the coupling sleeve, is' above a predetermined normal value. v I

The sections of the split rear section 2II of the coupling are preferably interiorlymachined and are clamped in desired set position by bolts 22I so asto form a socket of rectangular cross section for telescopic driving connection with the correspondingly shaped portion of the shaft section 201, the latter being-telescopically slidable within thesocket of rectangular cross section.

The shaft section 201 is connected through a universal coupling with the shaft I54 of the hor-. izontal grain conveyer I53, this'latter shaft having a suitable bearing in a housing at the lower forward end of the grain bin I6. 1

With this arrangement of the main power shaft, it is free to accommodate itself, through the combined friction clutch and telescopic joint between its sections, and the pivoted spherical bearing 209 of the shaft section 206, and-the several universal couplings, to'all relative displacemerits of the power shaft 2| 4 of-the tractor, as

the latter moves over uneven ground and makes turning movements of any degree, and the mech-' anisms of the harvester or like apparatus, as well.

as the engine of the tractor, are protected against damag'e'due to the overloads,

A power shaft 223, mounted in a bearing hous ving 22-4 supported on the structure of the bin I6 or the supporting frame, is connectedthrough a set of bevel gears, indicated at 225, to the driving shaft I54; and the shaft 2231s provided with a V-groove sheave 226, the'latter beingconnected with a V-groove sheave 221 on the operating shaft 82 of the threshing cylinder, through aV-belt' 220, preferablyfwith a suitable idler sheave cooperating with the belt "to secure the desired tension thereof. A second V-groove sheave 229 is mounted on the shaft 223 and. is connected through a V-belt 23I'to a vpulley 234 mounted on the inner side wall of the header frame, preferably through a suitable idler pulley. Th

sheave 2 drives a pitman 2", through an ec-' centric on the sheave, the pitman actuating the sickle device through its connection with the actuating plate It and the operating rod of the sickle. The belt Ill, through driving connections not shown herein, but disclosed in the aforementioned parent a plication, may also serve as a driving source for the upper driving roller the feed draper fl.

Power is supplied from a sheave I on the rear end of the shaft I54, and through suitable games: I

pivotaiiy mounted on said forwardly extending a draft portion to permit movement of said bearing longitudinally of said draft portion, and the relation with one of said shaft sections and at driving connections therefrom, as disclosed in the aforementioned parent-application, to operate the mechanisms of the separator.

. A shaft Ill is mounted in bearings carried by the wall of the storage bin, and a drive, indicated at 2", including pulleys orsprockets on the outer end of the shaft 251 and on the hub of the adjacent traction wheel I I serves to actuate the shaft 251 at a speed corresponding to the speed of travel of the apparatus over theground. The inner end of the shaft 251 is provided with a V- pulley 259 connected by a V-belt 280 to a V-pulley "I on the reel shaft 58.

The diameters of the various driving and driven pulleys are so selected as to give the desired normal speeds of' rotation to the driven shafts.

It should be understood thatfeatures and op- "erating effects of the invention disclosed hereinabove have definite commercial. applications and utility other than in the particular apparatus described or in the specific combinations with various other features defined in the claims, and the invention is to be considered as embracive of these various applications and utilities. And it is not desired that the invention be limited to the exact details of construction shown'and described herein for obvious modifications may occur to persons skilled in the art. f

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a tractor-drawn, power-operated harvesting device having a forwardly extending draft portion for coupling to a tractor, in combination, a fore and aft extending sectional power trans'- mitting shaft for driving operating mechanism of the harvesting device and comprising forward and bearing fora. spherical journal portion of said forward shaft section, said bearing being pivotally mounted on said forwardly extending draft portion to permit movement of said bearinglongitudinally of said draft portion, and the rear section of said shaft being in substantial alinement with said forward shaft section and connectable in driving relation to the operating mechanisms of the harvesting device, and a power transmitting connection between said forward and rear shaft sections comprising an element connected 1 to one of said shaft sections and with which the other, shaft section has a telescoping driving connection affording relative longitudinal movement rear shaftsectlons, and a spherical seating another portion with a socket element with which the other of said sh'aft sections has a free- 1:! adjustable telescopic driving connection, said clutch connection being automatically releasable on occurrence of a predetermined overload on said rear shaft section.

3. In a tractor-drawn, power-operated harvesting-thresher or the like having a forwardly extending draft element with-a power transmitting shaft carried thereby and connectable at its forward and rear ends to a power source on the tractor and operating mechanism of the harvester-thresher, respectively, a sectional power transmitting shaft adapted to supply power from the tractor to the operating mechanism of the harveste'r-thresher and including an overload release clutch connection therein and comprising a forward shaft section and a shaft section to the rear thereof, and a guided freely adjustable telescopic connection between said forward and rear shaft sections, said forward shaft section having a journal portion adjacent its forward end, and a bearing for said journal portion movably mounted on and adjacent the' forward end of the draft element, said journal portion being restrained against appreciable axial movement relative to said bearing, the movable mounting of said bearing on the draft element affording movement of said journal portion of said forward shaft section in a vertical plane while said forward shaft section is maintained in substantial axial alinement with said rear shaft section.

I 4. In a power transmission device for a harvester of the tractor-drawn, power-operated type having a forwardly extending draft element for draft connection to a tractor and a fore and aft extending power transmitting shaft rotatably mounted on the draft connection and connectable at its forward and rear ends to a power source on the tractor and to operating mechanism of the harvester, respectively, in combination, forward and rear substantially axially alined shaft sections, and a driving connection therebetween affording free relative longitudinal guided movement of said shaft sections while maintaining them in substantially axial alinement, and a rotatable mounting for saidsectional shaft in- .thereof, said bearing havinga support pivotally mounted along a transverse axis on the forward portion of the draft element and affording movement'of said journal portion in a vertical plane while said forward shaft section is maintained in substantially axial alinement with said rear vester-thresher having a forwardly extending draft portion for coupling to a tractor, in combination, a fore and aft extending sectional power transmitting shaft-for driving operating mechanism of the harvester-thresher and comprising forward and rear shaft sections, and a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaft section shaft section.

5. In a sectional shaft power transmission device for a tractor-drawn, power-operated harvester having a forwardly extending draft element, in combination, forward and rear substantially axially alinedshaft sections, and a driving connection therebetween affording free relative longitudinal guided movement of said shaft sections while maintaining them in substantially axial alinement, and means for rotatably mounting-said sectionalshaft and including a forward bearing movably mounted ona forward portion of the draft element and providing a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaftsection I wherein said journal portion is restrained against appreciable axial movementirelative to said bearing and affording up and down and fore and aft movement of said journal portion while said forward shaft section is maintained in substantially axial alinement with said rear shaft section.

6. In a power transmission device for a harvester of the tractor-drawn, power-operated type said sectional shaft including a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaft section,

said bearing being movable mounted on a for-.

ward portion of the draft element, and affording up and down and fore and aft'movement.

of said journal portion while said forward shaft section is-maintained in substantially axial alinement with said rear shaft section. I I

7. In a sectional shaft power transmission device for. a, tractor-drawn, power-operated harvester having a forwardly extending draft element, in combination, forward and rear substantially axially alined shaft sections, and a drivload release clutch connection between said shaft PatenttNor 2, 77,351.

[It is hereby certified'that error-f appears in the printed i i of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follow ond column,- line 19-20, claim "3,- f'or theword '[har'vesting-thresher" read --harvester-'thresher--;-page h,*first-bo1umn,* line 50, claim f'or movand second column, line 20, claim 8, for lower and that the said Letters Patent sndtild be read with this 1 able" "read movab1y--;

read, "p w r correction thereinthat' the same may conform to Pat'en t Office.

'sigped and sealed thisllth day or ing connection therebetween ail'ording an'over- CERTIFICATE or" connect-10a.

WALTER a. DRAYQ sections and free relative longitudinal guided movement therebetween while maintaining them in substantially axial alinement, and means for rotatably mounting said sectionalshaft and 'in-" cluding a forward bearing pivotally mounted on.

aforwardportion of the draft element and pro vidlng a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaft section wherein said Journal portion is restrained against appreciable axial movement relative to said bearing and affording up and down and fore and aft movement of said journal portion while said forward shaft section is maintained in substantially .axial aline-' ment with said rear shaft section. 8. In a power transmission device for a tractor-drawn, power-operated harvester-.thresher, in combination, a rotatably mounted. sectional power-transmitting shaft for driving operating.mech

anisms of the harvester-thresher and ;connect-.

able to a lower source on the tractor, said sectional power shaft including a plurality of iongitudinally alined shaft sections, and a unitary power transmitting element with which one-of said shaft sections has a free telescopic joint driving connection and having an overload release clutch connection with the other of said" shaft sections under all conditions,,and-a mo'v ably mounted bearing for a journahportion of a longitudinally movable one oi said shaft sections and providing movement of the bearing in a direction having a substantial component longitudinally of said shaft section, said Journal portion being'c'onfined in said bearing against appreciable axial movement relative to said bearing.

June 5, 1915.

the record of the ease in September- At 1911.5.

Leslie Frazer v First Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

wrurraa a DRAY.

9 if i'oation age s tions while maintaining them in substantially axial alinement, and means for rotatably mounting-said sectionalshaft and including a forward bearing movably mounted ona forward portion of the draft element and providing a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaftsection I wherein said journal portion is restrained against appreciable axial movementirelative to said bearing and affording up and down and fore and aft movement of said journal portion while said forward shaft section is maintained in substantially axial alinement with said rear shaft section.

6. In a power transmission device for a harvester of the tractor-drawn, power-operated type said sectional shaft including a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaft section,

said bearing being movable mounted on a for-.

ward portion of the draft element, and affording up and down and fore and aft'movement.

of said journal portion while said forward shaft section is-maintained in substantially axial alinement with said rear shaft section. I I

7. In a sectional shaft power transmission device for. a, tractor-drawn, power-operated harvester having a forwardly extending draft element, in combination, forward and rear substantially axially alined shaft sections, and a drivload release clutch connection between said shaft PatenttNor 2, 77,351.

[It is hereby certified'that error-f appears in the printed i i of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follow ond column,- line 19-20, claim "3,- f'or theword '[har'vesting-thresher" read --harvester-'thresher--;-page h,*first-bo1umn,* line 50, claim f'or movand second column, line 20, claim 8, for lower and that the said Letters Patent sndtild be read with this 1 able" "read movab1y--;

read, "p w r correction thereinthat' the same may conform to Pat'en t Office.

'sigped and sealed thisllth day or ing connection therebetween ail'ording an'over- CERTIFICATE or" connect-10a.

WALTER a. DRAYQ sections and free relative longitudinal guided movement therebetween while maintaining them in substantially axial alinement, and means for rotatably mounting said sectionalshaft and 'in-" cluding a forward bearing pivotally mounted on.

aforwardportion of the draft element and pro vidlng a bearing for a journal portion of said forward shaft section wherein said Journal portion is restrained against appreciable axial movement relative to said bearing and affording up and down and fore and aft movement of said journal portion while said forward shaft section is maintained in substantially .axial aline-' ment with said rear shaft section. 8. In a power transmission device for a tractor-drawn, power-operated harvester-.thresher, in combination, a rotatably mounted. sectional power-transmitting shaft for driving operating.mech

anisms of the harvester-thresher and ;connect-.

able to a lower source on the tractor, said sectional power shaft including a plurality of iongitudinally alined shaft sections, and a unitary power transmitting element with which one-of said shaft sections has a free telescopic joint driving connection and having an overload release clutch connection with the other of said" shaft sections under all conditions,,and-a mo'v ably mounted bearing for a journahportion of a longitudinally movable one oi said shaft sections and providing movement of the bearing in a direction having a substantial component longitudinally of said shaft section, said Journal portion being'c'onfined in said bearing against appreciable axial movement relative to said bearing.

June 5, 1915.

the record of the ease in September- At 1911.5.

Leslie Frazer v First Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

wrurraa a DRAY.

9 if i'oation age s 

